Illinois approves toll increase for $12 billion plan

Tolls for passenger vehicles are going up in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2012. The Illinois Tollway Authority has already enacted a toll increase for trucks as part of a $12 billion plan to reconstruct, widen and improve portions of interstates 90, 94, 294 and 57.

A series of 15 public hearings attracted 1,900 participants. According to the authority, 85 percent of the comments received were supportive of the improvement plan.

Tolls for passenger vehicles currently average 40 cents at mainline toll plazas. Those tolls will jump to 75 cents in 2012.

The Illinois Tollway Authority launched a series of congestion-relief programs in 2005. The program included a toll increase for trucks and cars in 2008 to pay for so-called green lanes.

But since the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the state has worked to modify the plan which no longer carries the “green lanes” moniker.